Italy will debut in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup with a match against CONCACAF champions Mexico on June 16. While El Tri are under pressure following two goalless draws in the World Cup qualifiers, their opponents will also have something to prove after sharing spoils with minnows Haiti in final warm-up game. Find here our Mexico v Italy match preview with the latest team news, best odds, probable lineups, no deposit bonuses and free predictions!
MEXICO v ITALY: MATCH PREVIEW
Mexico’s World Cup qualification campaign isn’t going quite as swimmingly, with recent draws against Panama and Costa Rica leaving Jose Manuel de la Torre’s men with just eight points from six games and on the precipice of automatic qualification. In their nine matches in 2013, Mexico have scored just six goals, so El Tri aren’t bang on top of their form.
When de la Torre’s men do manage to find the back of the net, it usually comes courtesy of Javier Hernandez, who has scored four of their last five goals.
The nucleus of the squad that won Olympic gold in London last year will be involved for Mexico here, but for one key ingredient. Oribe Peralta, who scored four goals in six games last summer, misses out with a thigh injury. With no fresh injury worries to report, under-pressure boss Juan Manuel de la Torre is likely to field the same side that started the Costa Rica game. Anyway, Giovani dos Santos is pushing for a starting berth.
The Italians are top of their World Cup qualification group, comfortably so over Bulgaria. But they failed to press home advantage when they could only manage a draw against the Czech Republic. Following up that, the Italians were held to a 2-2 draw in Brazil, by a plucky Haiti.
Mario Balotelli is likely to miss out after picking up a thigh injury. The good news is that Stephan El Shaarawy has resumed full training after he didn't train on Thursday as a result of a muscle strain. Prandelli is likely choose Emanuele Giaccherini in order to complete the attacking triumvirate alongside El Shaarawy and Alessandro Diamanti.
MEXICO v ITALY: PROBABLE LINEUPS
Mexico (4-4-2): Corona – Flores, Rodriguez, Moreno, Salcido – Barrera, Zavala, Herrera, Guardado – De Nigris, Hernandez.
Italy (4-3-1-2): Buffon – Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini – De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio - Giaccherini, Diamanti, El Shaarawy.
MEXICO v ITALY: TEAM FORM
Mexico
12-Jun-2013 Mexico 0 - Costa Rica 0 WCQN
08-Jun-2013 Panama 0 - Mexico 0 WCQN
05-Jun-2013 Jamaica 0 - Mexico 1 WCQN
01-Jun-2013 Mexico 2 - Nigeria 2 FR
18-Apr-2013 Peru 0 - Mexico 0 FR
Italy
12-Jun-2013 Italy 2 - Haiti 2 FR
08-Jun-2013 Czech Republic 0 - Italy 0 WCQE
01-Jun-2013 Italy 4 - San Marino 0 FR
27-Mar-2013 Malta 0 - Italy 2 WCQE
22-Mar-2013 Italy 2 - Brazil 2 FR
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